by Matt Schmittdiel

Created on: August 01, 2007

Dreary eyed and sluggish, he gropes his way to the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee. This is a necessity that many working citizens find they cannot live without. Out of the tin coffee can the grounds are scooped. Into a cheap bleached filter they go. Pour in some tap water, set the filter, and flip it to on. Soon the coffee is ready and the day can finally begin.

The above situation is probably the normal coffee making routine for most Americans. Wake up early and get the coffee on as soon as possible. After all coffee is coffee right? Wrong! There is the coffee that will get you up and going through the day. Then there is the coffee that one actually looks forward to drinking in the morning. This is the kind of coffee that can have someone appreciating the quintessence of the morning routine. A good cup of coffee can make or break a day. Making great coffee is easy. There are no subtle tricks to it. All it takes is a little bit of patience, practice, and some experimentation.

Great coffee starts with the beans. Invest in a decent coffee grinder and buy whole beans from either a coffee shop, or co-op. Beans tend to stay fresher, longer. Grinding ones own beans also allows for them to adjust the strength of the coffee to their liking. The finer ground the bean, the stronger and richer the coffee will be. There is also nothing quite like the aroma of freshly ground beans in the morning. When selecting a bean, pay close attention to the flavor when the coffee is actually consumed. Note what the strengths and weaknesses are. Keep a list of favorite types of beans and consider mixing and experimenting.

While great coffee starts with the bean, it certainly does not end with the bean. Making coffee in a drip press means that there will be a filter involved. Cheap bleached filters can have an adverse effect on the flavor of ones coffee. Organic brown filters should be used if at all possible. They can usually be found at the local supermarket. They are a little bit more expensive, but definitely worth it.

Finally there is the coffee maker itself. The bank does not have to be broken on this one. More expensive coffee makers will have more features though. It is nice to be able to prepare the coffee in the evening and then set it to brew upon waking. There is one essential requirement to getting the most out of ones coffee maker. That requirement is cleanliness. The simplest way to clean a coffee maker is to run two cups of vinegar through it. Follow this by eight to ten full pots of water. This will clean all of the gunk and stale coffee out of the coffee maker. This should be done at least once a month, but every two weeks is better.

Great coffee doesn't have to be a hassle. Starting the day with a great cup of coffee can make the morning better. A great morning will lead to a great day. Life is too short to be drinking stale coffee. Why not take the time then to follow the simple steps above and enjoy wonderful coffee at minimal expense?

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